Belt tongue with glass breakage element for an emergency seat belt system in a vehicle

Abstract

Belt tongue (1) for a belt system of a vehicle with a- a locking element (8) and a handle element (2), wherein the locking element (8) comprises an insertion edge (10) for receiving in a belt buckle and a locking opening (12) for locking the belt tongue (1) in the belt buckle, and the handle element (2) at least partially encloses the locking element (8) on the side facing away from the insertion edge (10) and has an elongated opening (4) for the passage of a webbing strap, characterized by the fact that the locking element (8) has a glass breakage element (14) in the area of ​​the insertion edge (10).

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The invention relates to a belt tongue for a vehicle seat belt system, comprising a locking element and a handle element. The locking element includes an insertion edge for receiving the belt tongue in a buckle and a locking opening for locking the belt tongue in the buckle. The handle element at least partially encloses the locking element on the side opposite the insertion edge and has an elongated opening for passing a webbing strap. The invention further relates to an emergency seat belt system with a belt tongue according to the invention.

[0002] Seatbelt tongues are well-known components of vehicle safety belts. They typically consist of a locking element, designed as a metal body, which is inserted into a belt buckle. They serve to secure the webbing to restrain vehicle occupants in the event of an accident.

[0003] Especially in accidents, there is a risk that doors will jam or electronic windows will malfunction, preventing the vehicle occupants from easily exiting. The only way out is usually by breaking the windows and exiting the vehicle through them. For this purpose, an emergency hammer is typically provided, which is mounted or stored in a designated location inside the vehicle. Particularly in cases of fire, rollovers, or water ingress, every second counts – access to the hammer within reach of the driver or passenger can make all the difference. Given that modern vehicles are increasingly equipped with complex electronics, a simple, mechanical rescue tool like the emergency hammer is an important addition to the vehicle's equipment.

[0004] However, especially in a stressful and complex accident situation, it may happen that the emergency hammer is not directly accessible, cannot be found in the hectic situation, or is no longer in its usual position due to the impact, so that it cannot be used.

[0005] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing an emergency system or parts of an emergency system which enables the occupants to rescue themselves through the window, whereby the emergency system is always readily available and without the occupants needing additional tools.

[0006] This problem is solved by a belt tongue according to claim 1 and an emergency belt system according to claim 6. Further advantageous embodiments are mentioned in the dependent claims.

[0007] The invention is based on the idea that the glass breaking element should not be an external tool that, in the event of an accident, would first have to be searched for inside the vehicle and might be inaccessible, but rather that the glass breaking element should be in the immediate vicinity of each vehicle occupant. It was recognized that the seatbelt tongue, with its typically metal locking element, is particularly well-suited, since the belt tongue must be released from the buckle anyway when exiting the vehicle. The occupant is already holding the belt tongue at that moment and can therefore use the glass breaking element attached to the belt tongue to break the vehicle window closest to them without any further action.

[0008] To achieve effective and targeted force transmission when breaking a vehicle window, the glass breaker element is advantageously positioned so that it extends from the insertion edge in the opposite direction to the handle element. This ensures that the tip is free in an emergency and can be guided precisely against a glass surface without the handle element hindering its use.

[0009] To optimize the breaking effect on different glass structures—especially single-pane or laminated glass—the glass breaking element, in an advantageous embodiment, comprises a number of points. A single metal point can be provided to concentrate the impact force on a single point. However, it is also conceivable that several metal points are arranged along the insertion edge to better distribute the force. Likewise, the geometric design of the glass breaking element is not limited to a single point; other shapes and designs are also conceivable, transferring the force to the glass in such a way as to achieve breakage.

[0010] The glass breakage element is preferably made of metal and / or ceramic. Other base materials with a hard metal coating are also suitable as glass breakage elements.

[0011] To ensure the glass breaking element functions reliably and permanently, it is preferably permanently connected to the locking element. Such a rigid connection prevents the breaking tool from unintentionally loosening or shifting, thus improving both accident prevention during normal operation and operational readiness in emergencies. A bonded connection, especially by welding or brazing, is particularly advantageous for this purpose.

[0012] In a particularly advantageous design, the glass breakage element can also be purchased as a retrofit kit and attached to the locking element by the user using common fastening methods, such as an adhesive bond like superglue. This allows existing belt systems to be easily extended to include a glass breakage element.

[0013] To eliminate any risk to vehicle occupants in everyday use and simultaneously ensure the functionality of the glass breaking tool, the glass breaking element is positioned so that it disappears completely into the seatbelt buckle when the seatbelt tongue is fastened. This arrangement protects the occupants from injury and ensures that the element remains readily available at all times without requiring separate storage or access.

[0014] The advantages of the invention are particularly in that by combining a glass breakage element with a belt tongue, a multifunctional vehicle safety component is created that serves both occupant protection and emergency rescue.

[0015] This combination allows the seatbelt tongue to be used as an integrated rescue tool for breaking vehicle windows in the event of an accident or obstruction. The dimensions and handling of the seatbelt tongue remain virtually unchanged during normal driving, thus requiring no additional space in the vehicle. A significant advantage is that the glass breaker is always readily available to the vehicle occupant – directly accessible within the seatbelt tongue. This eliminates the need to carry separate emergency hammers, which are often inaccessible or difficult to locate in an emergency.

[0016] Another advantage lies in the discreet integration of the glass breaking tool from a safety perspective. The breaking tool is positioned so that it is recessed in the seatbelt buckle when engaged, thus posing no risk of injury. The breaking tool is only available for emergency use when it is deliberately removed from the buckle.

[0017] Furthermore, the solution enables cost-effective implementation in series production vehicles, as existing seatbelt architectures can be reused without fundamental design changes. The ability to retrofit existing vehicle models is a particular advantage.

[0018] The invention is further described with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. The drawings show... Fig. 1. A belt tongue.

[0019] The illustrations in the figure are partly simplified and schematic. Different views of parts may be scaled differently. Identical reference numbers are used for identical or structurally equivalent parts.

[0020] The exemplary embodiment according to the Fig. Figure 1 shows a belt tongue 1 according to the invention. The belt tongue 1 comprises a handle 2 for gripping the belt tongue 1 and inserting it into a belt buckle (not shown). The handle 2 further comprises an elongated opening 4 with a guide rod 6 extending along the opening 4. A webbing (not shown) is arranged through the opening 4 and around the guide rod 6 such that the belt tongue 1 can be guided along the webbing.

[0021] Furthermore, the belt tongue 1 includes a locking element 8, which in this embodiment is made of metal. The locking element 8 is arranged in the belt tongue 1 such that it has an insertion edge 10 which is inserted into the belt buckle (not shown). On the side of the locking element 8 opposite the insertion edge 10, the locking element 8 is partially enclosed by the handle element 2 and fixed within it. The locking element 8 also includes a locking opening 12 for locking in the belt buckle 1.

[0022] The belt tongue 1 according to the embodiment of the Fig. However, 1 is not only designed for the pure restraint and safety of the occupants of a vehicle, but also includes a glass breakage element 14 in a kind of dual function. This glass breakage element 14 is, in the exemplary embodiment according to the Fig.1. A metallic tip is located at the insertion edge 10. The illustrated glass breakage element 14 is thus an integral part of the locking element 8 and results from the geometry of the insertion edge 10. Not shown, but equally possible, is that the glass breakage element 14 is an independent component which is connected to the locking element 8 or the insertion edge 10, for example, by a material-bonded connection, either permanently or detachably. This particularly enables the retrofitting of existing belt tongues 1 with a glass breakage element 14. Reference symbol list 1 belt tongue 2 handle elements 4 Opening 6 Deflection rod 8 Locking element 10 Insertion edge 12 Locking opening 14 Glass breakage element

Claims

[1] Belt tongue (1) for a seat belt system of a vehicle with a- a locking element (8) and a handle element (2), wherein the locking element (8) comprises an insertion edge (10) for receiving in a belt buckle and a locking opening (12) for locking the belt tongue (1) in the belt buckle, and the handle element (2) at least partially encloses the locking element (8) on the side facing away from the insertion edge (10) and has an elongated opening (4) for the passage of a webbing strap, characterized by , that the locking element (8) has a glass breakage element (14) in the area of ​​the insertion edge (10). [2] Belt tongue (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the glass breakage element (14) extends from the insertion edge in the opposite direction to the handle element (2). [3] Belt tongue (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the glass fracture element (14) has a number of points. [4] Belt tongue (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the glass breakage element (14) is firmly connected to the locking element (8). [5] Belt tongue (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the glass breakage element (14) is arranged on the belt tongue (8) such that the glass breakage element (14) dips into the belt buckle during the use of the belt to secure an occupant. [6] Emergency seat belt system for a vehicle, comprising a belt tongue (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, which is guided along a webbing and a belt buckle for receiving the belt tongue.

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